Fix: Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart

by Matthew Adams

Matthew is a freelancer who has produced a variety of articles on various topics related to technology. His main focus is the Windows OS and all the things... read more

Updated on

  • The Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart is pretty common for a number of BSoD blue screen errors.
  • This issue is usually caused by a problem with the Registry, but its roots may be also a hardware malfunction.
  • Sometimes, it can manifest itself as a boot loop with the message being displayed every time after startup.

What to do if Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart

XINSTALL BY CLICKING THE DOWNLOAD FILE

Was there a time when you were working or playing a video game on your new Windows 10 or Windows 11 operating system, and you got the Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart error message?

Sometimes, this problem goes deeper, causing a restart boot loop, and some of our readers also reported the BSoD message, then facing a black screen.

Don't be alarmed because you will see the reason why Windows is acting like this and the steps you need to take to fix this issue.

What to if Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart stuck at 100 message appears?

This is usually caused by BSOD errors such as Internal Power Error, so the best course of action would be to wait it out.

If you notice a message saying Driver power state failure, be sure to check your drivers and update them to the latest version if necessary.

In some instances, you might even encounter a Critical process that died, and this indicates that a specific software is causing the crash, so you'll need to find it and remove it.

What are the causes of Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart?

If you or a specific program deleted registry files from your System32 folder in the Windows partition, then you will most likely be notified that your device ran into a problem and needs to restart.

Furthermore, if RAM is running at a higher percentage than the operating system accepts, then you will also get this error message.

The high percentage of RAM usage can be caused by a specific application that you may have installed recently.

Also, you may run into this message associated with a lot of system errors like the BAD_SYSTEM_CONFIG_INFO or other BSoD.

In this case, you should look for the specific error code and start looking for a fix. We have a whole section of BSoD fix guides so you can start from there.

Quick tip:

In case you want to ensure that issues like this will not appear in the future and that even if they do you have a sturdy backup, we recommend using the powerful Restoro software.

This amazing app simplifies the process of restoring your system to a better shape considerably and is capable of replacing any corrupted or missing registry files that might be causing the BSOD.

Restoro

Ensure that your system will never experience a BSOD in the future, while also resolving any current problems with this great software.

How can I fix the PC needs to restart message on Windows 10 & 11?

1. Select the Startup Repair option

  1. Insert your OS recovery disc, switch on the PC and then press any key to boot from the DVD or USB stick. If you don't have a media, use our guide on how to create a bootable Windows drive.
  2. Press Next, then select the Repair your computer option.
  3. Press the Troubleshoot button.
  4. Now, click on Advanced options.
  5. Select the Startup Repair option.
  6. Next, select the target operating system to fix and Windows will initiate the repair, then restart.

This is a fix if you can't boot into the Windows login screen or if the system goes into a frustrating boot loop.

Sometimes, you can get an OS incompatibility error when you're trying to run Startup Repair. Here's our guide on how to fix the Startup Repair incompatibility issue.

2. Boot Into Safe Mode

  1. Use the bootable media (just like in Solution 1) or restart the PC three times to activate Startup Repair.
  2. You computer will reboot, then show theAdvanced options screen, and selectTroubleshoot.
  3. Click onAdvanced options.
  4. SelectStartup Settings.
  5. Click on theRestart button.
  6. Press theF4 key to get intoSafe Mode.

Once you enter Safe Mode, check if the problem is still there. It's possible that you might be able to fix the issue from Safe Mode, so be sure to try this method.

This solution will help you access the Safe Mode if you face this problem in the startup phase. If you can access the system, you can also do that from the Settings menu.

In any case, we have an excellent guide with all the methods of getting your PC into Safe Mode that will help you all the way.

3. Run the System File Checker (SFC) and DISM

3.1 Run an SFC scan

  1. Click the Start button, type cmd, and select Run as administrator to run Command Prompt with full privileges.
  2. When Command Prompt opens, type the following command and press Enter to run it: sfc /scannow
  3. The scanning process will take about 15 minutes, so it will require your patience.

Expert Tip: Some PC issues are hard to tackle, especially when it comes to corrupted repositories or missing Windows files. If you are having troubles fixing an error, your system may be partially broken. We recommend installing Restoro, a tool that will scan your machine and identify what the fault is.
Click here to download and start repairing.

Once the scan is finished, check if the issue is still there. If the problem is still there, or if you couldn't run an SFC scan, it's advised that you perform a DISM scan instead.

3.2 Run a DISM scan

  1. In the same Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  2. Just like the System File Checker, the DISM scan will take a little bit of time, depending on the size of your disk and the PC capabilities so don't interfere until it's finished.

In some cases, file corruption can cause this and many other issues to occur, and in order to fix this problem, it's advised that you perform both SFC and DISM scans.

Once the scan is finished, check if the problem is still there. If you weren't able to run or complete the SFC scan, you might want to run it now.

If you run into trouble, read our guide on what to do if the DISM scan fails on Windows because you will be able to fix it quickly.

4. Change the Memory Dump setting

  1. Press the Start button, type advanced system, and select View advanced system settings from the list of results.
  2. Click on the Advanced tab in the upper side of the Properties window, then select Settings from the Startup and recovery section.
  3. Under the System failure section, uncheck the Automatically restart box, then click the Write debugging information drop-down menu and select the Complete memory dump option.
  4. Save changes, reboot your Windows device, then check to see if you still have the error Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart.

5. Perform a System Restore

  1. Press the Windows Start button, type system restore, and select Create a restore point from the list of results.
  2. System Properties window will now open. Click the System Restore button.
  3. Click the Next button.
    Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart Windows 7
  4. If it's available, check Show more restore points option. Now you just need to choose the desired restore point and click Next.
    Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart every time
  5. Follow the steps to complete the restoration process.

If you're not familiar, the System Restore tool allows you to restore your PC to an earlier state and fix various problems. Once you restore your system, check if the problem is still there.

We have a complete guide on how to create a System Restore point in Windows 10 that will help you with all the further information you might need.

6. Update the drivers and Windows

  1. Click on theStart button from Windows, typedevice manager, and select Device Manager from results.
  2. Try to locate any devices marked with an exclamation symbol in the list, right click on them and select Update driver.
  3. Next, select the first option,Search automatically for drivers.
  4. The system will look for any updates and will install it. If it doesn't, click onSearch for updated drivers on Windows Update.
  5. You will reach the Windows Update menu so click on theCheck for updates button to see if there are new additions you should install.
  6. If the system is up to date, hitView all optional updates.
  7. Select theDriver updates section, check the boxes for any new drivers and click theDownload and install button.
  8. You should perform the first three steps for all the drivers, even if they don't have the exclamation mark, just to be sure that all the drivers are up to date.

In some cases, Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart message can appear if your drivers are outdated.

This can be a problem, and in order to fix it, you need to find and update the problematic drivers. You can also visit the manufacturer's website and download the latest drivers for your device.

However, another handy option that we recommend is updating and fixing drivers with a dedicated driver updater software for Windows.

If you keep getting Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart message, the issue might be the missing updates.

Microsoft is frequently releasing updates, and these updates are usually installed automatically. However, sometimes you might miss an update or two.

How can I fix the PC needs to restart message on Windows 11?

If you've upgraded your system to Windows 11, you probably discovered that apart from the changed design and some new and interesting features, the new OS is not much different from Windows 10.

The majority of system apps and menus look the same or are at least in the same place you're used to from the old OS.

In fact, all the solutions we presented above can be applied to Windows 11 without any problems, however, the Settings menu looks a bit different.

The Check for updates button is easily accessible in Windows 11

For instance, to view the optional updates, you will have to access the Advanced options from the Windows Update settings menu.

In case you still have this issue, and the machine is still in warranty, we would suggest you take the device to the store where you bought it because it is most likely a hardware malfunction.

Should the warranty period pass, you can either replace the faulty component yourself or ask for the help of a repair shop.

Now you have different ways to fix the Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart error in Windows 10 & 11.

If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to leave them in the comments section below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • This error occurs when there are corrupt system files or drivers. Other reasons for this error could be caused by a power failure or a virus or malware infection. Read our full guide to fix this problem in no time.

  • Blue screens are caused usually by computer hardware problems or their drivers. Read more about what can cause a BSoD error.